Abstract: In drilling a hole using reverse circulation and the Venturi effect, drilling fluid is caused to flow through the annulus between the set of drill pipes and the hole and to rise under reduced pressure in the interior of the drill pipes to a level at which it is ejected outside the drill pipes, using a fluid diverting device connected in the set of drill pipes and which includes a Venturi tube, the device causing ejection of the fluid from the interior of the pipes, drilling fluid being pumped from the surface in the interior of the drill pipes to the device in which it is diverted into the Venturi tube to cause upward flow of fluid from the drill tool.

Abstract: The method is disclosed for drilling a pilot hole and subsequently enlarging the pilot hole in earth formation. A dual concentric pipe string is used for circulating air downwardly through the outer pipe, through a pilot bit and upwardly through the bore hole outside the pipe string to bail cuttings, during drilling of the pilot hole. The air pressure expands the cutters of an expansible bit while a milited portion of the air supplied cools the cutters. After the cutters are fully expanded, additional air is utilized to clean and cool the cutters. Air is returned through the inner pipe of the dual concentric pipe string. A venturi device is utilized to induce return flow through the inner pipe during enlargement of the hole and to vacuum residue when enlargement is completed. The dual concentric pipe string is made up of lengths of pipe providing threaded, sealed joints.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for forming a row of piles to form a wall by employing an earth auger device. The method comprises the steps of drilling an intermediate hole in the earth with the auger between two previously-formed and spaced-apart piles, then stopping rotation of the earth auger at the bottom of the intermediate hole after completion of the drilling operation, pouring in mortar while pulling out the auger to form an intermediate pile between the previously-formed piles and, at the same time, cutting away or displacing portions of earth between the previously-formed piles and the intermediate pile, and replacing the displaced earth with pile-forming mortar to integrally join the intermediate pile with the previously-formed piles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for drilling a pilot hole and subsequently enlarging the pilot hole in earth formation. A dual concentric pipe string is used for circulating air downwardly through the outer pipe, through a pilot bit and upwardly through the bore hole outside the pipe string to bail cuttings, during drilling of the pilot hole. The air pressure expands the cutters of an expansible bit while a limited portion of the air supplied cools the cutters. After the cutters are fully expanded, additional air is utilized to clean and cool the cutters. Air is returned through the inner pipe of the dual concentric pipe string. A venturi device is utilized to induce return flow through the inner pipe during enlargement of the hole and to vacuum residue when enlargement is completed. The dual concentric pipe string is made up of lengths of pipe providing threaded, sealed joints.

Abstract: An air injection sub for use with a dual conduit drill pipe string is provided having inner and outer concentric tubular members which are connected to the corresponding inner and outer conduits of a dual conduit string to provide isolated annular and central passageways and is particularly characterized by improved injection means in the inner tubular member which allows fluid to pass from the annular passageway into the central passageway through a plurality of apertures which open into the central passageway at a plurality of levels and angular positions, is field adjustable and provides improved erosion resistance.

Abstract: A nutating earth drilling bit which is adapted for use in drilling systems in which the drilling fluid and cuttings are transported from bit to surface through the interior of the drill string. The nutating bit is provided with a toroidal cutting member and a longitudinally extending annular shank, both of which have longitudinally extending passageways aligned with one another and in flow communication with the central return conduit of the drill string. The cutting member of one embodiment has a segmented cutting web at its lower end which divides the central passageway into three separate fluid return channels. Another embodiment drills an annular hole face around an uncut earth core, the core being permitted to rise into the shank member where it is broken into short segments by a core breaker.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mining an underground ore stratum with a drilling and mining tool which first drills a hole into the strata as it is assembled section by section until a desired depth is reached. The tool includes an outer conduit that is screwed together and at least two stab fitted inner conduits that are rotatable relative to the outer conduit for providing at least three conduit systems for conducting processing fluids into and out of the ore strata; and means for independently controlling, from the surface, the rate of flow in each conduit. During mining, one conduit system directs the flow of a mining liquid downwardly and into the ore stratum through a mining nozzle to create a slurry of ore and liquid, a second conduit system directs a slurry lifting fluid downwardly into and through a slurry lifting means, while a third conduit system conducts the slurry to the surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for subterranean slurry drilling and mining of granular ore, such as phosphates, with a combined drilling and mining apparatus. The apparatus includes a tool string having a drilling head and mining head that are selectively interchangeable on its upper end for drilling into one or more ore strata to be mined and thereafter to remove ore from the strata as a slurry. The drill string includes a plurality of inner and outer pipe sections connected to a drill bit at its lower end. A drilling/mining liquid is directed through the tool string during both the drilling and mining modes of operation. During drilling, liquid is directed through a foot valve into the rotating bit to wash cuttings to the surface externally of the tool.

Abstract: A borehole drilling apparatus adapted for connection to a drilling string, wherein the cuttings pass through the center of the drill bit and are adapted for conveyance to the surface through a central pipe of the drilling string, a labyrinth seal being located between the outer perimeter of the apparatus and the wall of the borehole to provide an annular region of relatively immobile or stagnant fluid around the apparatus to forestall movement of fluid upwardly and downwardly past the labyrinth seal, part of the drilling fluid being conducted in a downward direction below the seal to force cuttings toward and through the center of the drill bit for upward conveyance through the central pipe, another portion of the drilling fluid being discharged above the seal for upward conveyance through the annulus between the drilling string and wall of the borehole to the top of the latter, whereby any formation material which may drop into the borehole annulus will be forced upwardly through such annulus to the top of t

Abstract: Apparatus for concentric multi-string drilling with reverse air vacuum for the entrainment of chips and dust, selectively controlled through a plurality of annuli defined by the multiplicity of drill strings adapted to individually and/or cooperatively operate drill bits and reamers and the like to bore geological formations as required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling head connection specifically designed for reverse circulation operation and the connection can be screwed on a double pipe system in such a way that the drilling fluid injected into the annular space passes through the annular channel and thereafter through the channel of the drilling head so as to lubricate the leading surfaces of the bit and the plug moves up through the inner space with the excavation material passing through the lateral channels and also the connection can be used with any drilling head.

Abstract: Apparatus for subterranean slurry drilling and mining of granular ore, such as phosphates, with a combined drilling and mining apparatus. The apparatus includes a tool string having a drilling head and mining head that are selectively interchangeable on its upper end for drilling into one or more ore strata to be mined and thereafter to remove ore from the strata as a slurry. The drill string includes a plurality of inner and outer pipe sections connected to a mining nozzle section, to an eductor pump section, and to a drill bit at its lower end. A drilling/mining liquid is directed through the tool string during both the drilling and mining modes of operation. During drilling, liquid is directed through a foot valve into the rotating bit to wash cuttings to the surface externally of the tool. During mining, the tool string is rotated, the foot valve is closed, and a mining nozzle is opened thereby causing liquid jetting from the mining nozzle to reduce the ore to a slurry.

Abstract: Dual flow passage drill stem has a tube radially supported within a drill pipe by a plurality of metal ribs welded to the middle portion of the tube and by elastomer O-rings mounted in spiders disposed around the tube connectors and seated against outwardly facing shoulders in the pipe tool joints. Axial loads are taken by elastomer rings around the tube connectors clamped between outwardly facing annular rabbets at the inner periphery of each spider and an integral flange on the pin tube connector and a threaded flange screwed onto box tube connector. The tube is preloaded in tension and the pipe and elastomer rings are preloaded in compression. The axial support elastomer rings preferably have hour-glass cross sections to increase their damping effect; in addition, the axial support elastomer rings, as well as the radial support O-rings, are preferably made of neoprene, which has a relatively flat curve of force transmission versus frequency.

Abstract: A bit packer for use with a string of dual concentric drill pipe, having inner and outer tubular members concentrically arranged to mate with the inner and outer pipes of the drill string to provide an annular conduit for fluid from surface to bit and a central conduit for fluid and cuttings from bit to surface, is particularly characterized by flexible packing means mounted slidably and rotatably on the outer tubular member. The packing means deform against the hole wall to seal the annular space between the outer member and the hole wall. Upper and lower ports provide fluid communication between the annular conduit and the annular space; when the packer is moved downwardly in the hole the packing means slides upwardly to close the upper port and open the lower port; when the packer is moved upwardly in the hole, the converse occurs. A milling collar is provided above the packing means.

Abstract: A system and method for emplacing a relatively large casing under and spanning an obstacle such as a river is disclosed. The casing is emplaced along the path of a previously bored and placed existing pilot string running beneath the obstacle. The pilot string extends typically in an inverted arcuate contour from a first position at or near ground level on one side of the obstacle to a second position at or near ground level on the other side of the obstacle. The system includes apparatus for concentrically reaming the pilot hole to an enlarged diameter and entraining the cuttings from the excavated annulus of the reaming operation in drilling mud. The casing is advanced along the reamed pilot hole in following relationship to the reaming apparatus. A seal is provided between the outer surface of the leading portion of the casing and the reamed pilot hole so that the drilling mud containing the entrained cuttings flows into the leading end of the advancing casing.

Abstract: A borehole drilling apparatus having a pneumatically driven hammer mounting a bit, a drill pipe connected to the hammer to supply operating compressed air to drive the hammer and to blow drilling debris therefrom, and a debris conduit in spaced circumscribing relation to the drill pipe having an open end adjacent to the hammer to receive air and debris therefrom and a remote opposite end to discharge said air and debris through the conduit.

Abstract: A rotatable airhammer including an outer housing structure in which a hollow hammer piston is reciprocable to impact against an anvil bit used in drilling a bore hole. The anvil bit has a central passage communicating with inner core sample tubing extending through the piston to the upper end of the housing structure, such tubing housing structure being connectible to a string of concentric dual drill pipe extending to the top of the bore hole. Compressed air is directed alternately to the annular space between the tubing and housing structure above and below the piston to reciprocate the latter for repeated impact action against the anvil bit, air being discharged from the lower portion of the housing structure to clear the bottom of the bore hole of cuttings and direct them into the central passage through the bit, the inner tubing and inner drill pipe portion to the top of the hole.

Abstract: A rotary percussion bit comprises a body having at its upper end a threaded pin adapted to mate with a length of dual conduit drill stem. A plurality of down flow passages for air or other drilling fluid are near the periphery of the body. Inwardly of the down flow passages is an upflow passage. Channels across the lower face of the body connect the down flow and upflow passages. Over the bottom face of the body are located interior boring elements. The face is preferably concave, comprising a plurality of annular steps. At the lower end of the body is disposed a ring on the flat bottom of which are located gage and near gage boring elements. The ring extends down below the outer periphery of the bottom face of the body of the bit. The ring is secured to the body by quick attachable and detachable means in the form of an epoxy cemented straight threaded rotary shouldered connection, the ring having a bevelled lip extending upwardly around the bit body.

Abstract: An injection sub for use with a string of dual concentric drill pipe, having inner and outer tubular members concentrically arranged to mate with the inner and outer pipes of the drill string to provide continuous isolated annular and central passageways, is particularly characterized by an annular chamber in the inner member. Ports permit the flow of fluid from the annular passageway to the chamber, and apertures permit fluid flow from the chamber to the central passageway. An annular check valve in the chamber cooperates with the ports to prevent flow from the chamber to the annular passageway.

Abstract: Drill cuttings are effectively removed from the bottom of a bore before they can adversely affect the operation of the bit. The bit includes a body member rotatably supporting individual cutter members. A shield means projects from the body member proximate the cutter members. A first portion of the shield means has an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cutter means and substantially equal to the diameter of the bore and a second portion having an outside diameter substantially less than the outside diameter of the cutter members and substantially less than the diameter of the bore. A first passage extending through the bit is adapted to provide communication with a vacuum source to assist in removing the drill cuttings. A second passage extending along the length of the bit is adapted to provide communication with a gas pressure source to assist in removing the drill cuttings.

Abstract: Drill cuttings are effectively removed from the bottom of a bore before they can adversely affect the operation of the bit. The bit includes a body member rotatably supporting individual cutter members. A shield means projects from the body member proximate the cutter members. A first portion of the shield means has an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cutter means and substantially equal to the diameter of the bore and a second portion having an outside diameter substantially less than the outside diameter of the cutter members and substantially less than the diameter of the bore. A first passage extending through the bit is adapted to provide communication with a vacuum source to assist in removing the drill cuttings. A second passage extending through the bit is adapted to provide communication with a gas pressure source to assist in removing the drill cuttings.

Abstract: An airhammer and core bit apparatus including a housing and a hammer piston reciprocable in the housing for delivering repeated impact blows to an anvil secured to or forming part of a core bit which produces a core in a bore hole being drilled. A central core receiving tube extends through the housing and hammer piston, through which the core formed by the bit is conducted upwardly and through the hammer piston to the top of the bore hole, part of the compressed air supplied to the airhammer being diverted to the central tube for elevating the core therewithin toward the top of the bore hole.